2a - AUGUST 2006 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

[Mark Caunt]

Angus Bird Sightings for AUGUST 2006

[HarryB]

Hi All,
Seawatching pretty grim, as there was no wind and excellent visibility. Lots of Common Guillemots with their young cheeping along behind them. A few Northern Gannets and that was it, apart from 2 extremely young Dunlin and an adult male Northern Wheatear on the rocks at the shore.

[HarryB]

Hi All,
Just had a grapevine message from Bob McCurley, to tell us about a Green Sandpiper he's found at SWT Montrose Basin
Wildlife and Visitor Centre this afternoon.

[HarryB]

Hi All,
Received an additional message from Bob McCurley, to tell us there's Spotted Redshank too!
By the time we got to SWT Centre, Montrose, there were two Green Sandpipers and one Spotted Redshanks.
One of the Green Sandpipers was in the wee pool in front of the Centre (the one which was re-dug at the turn of the year) and the other was on the shore to the left of the Sand Martin bank. The Spotted Redshanks was there too, but flew towards Maryton Bay. Spotted Red was in breeding plumage i.e. black.
Well done, Bob, Doris and Dorothy.

[Clive McKay]

2 Green Sand, 2 Common Sand, 1 Shoveler, 1 Osprey
from tall hide late evening at Loch of Lintrathen

[HarryB]

Hi All,
Andy Wakelin found a Spotted Redshanks at Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre this afternoon. Viewable from the Centre windows.

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: THURSDAY 3rd August 2006 - 4:25pm
Species: Med Gull
Location: Adult Med Gull once again at the south end of the Arbroath Esplanade at 4:25pm today.

[Neil Mitchell]

Hi folks by way of an introduction I'm the new(well been here for 2months now) ranger at the Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre.

Just a quick update from the wildlife centre, The Spotted Redshank has been showing again in front of the visitor centre as the tide receeds. No sign of the green sandpipers since Tues. There are also 40+ Dunlin and low no's of turnstone alongside the usual redshank and curlew.

[Bob McCurley]

4TH AUGUST - 1915HRS. - GREEN SANDPIPER -- ONE - ON YEOMANRY

POND, BARRY BUDDON, GRID REF. N.O. 539333 ALSO ON

BARRY BUDDON AT LIGHTHOUSE AREA N.O. 543308

NORTHERN WHEATEAR 3 ( signs of Autumn migration )

P.S. This is th e 6th report in the county of Green Sandpiper so far
this autumn .

[Bob McCurley]

AUG.13TH. MEET 10 A.M. MONIFIETH FOOTBALL PITCH CAR PARK

THIS IS A JOINT LOCAL CONSERVATION GROUPS OUTING TO WHICH ALL ARE INVITED ,
LOCAL GROUPS COMPRISE , ANGUS AND DUNDEE BIRD CLUB,
R.S .P.B. S.W.T. DUNDEE NATS . AND S.O.C.
WHO MEET TO ENJOY BARRY BUDDON,S NATURAL HISTORY

AN EXTRA THIS YEAR WILL BE THE SETTING UP OF A MOTH TRAP ON SATURDAY EVENING , THE RESULTS WILL BE SHOWN TO THOSE ATTENDING THE OUTING ON SUNDAY MORNING .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT BOB McCURLEY 01382462944

[Clive McKay]

Loch of Lintrathen, Saturday evening, 5 August 2006.

2 Green Sands reappeared again (not seen since Wednesday). 12 Common Snipe, 1 Common Sand, 2 Shoveler. 1500+ Common Gulls roosting at Backwater resr.

[RAB]

2 Green Sand and a Ruff (moulting adult male) at Murton, Sat 6/08/06 also juv Spotted Redshank at Lurgies. Also Clive's Green Sands at Lintrathen still present this morning (Sun).

[Bob McCurley]

AUG/ 6TH . 9AM- GREEN SANDPIPER - RUFF - COMMON SANDPIPERS

PRESENT ON MURTON FORFAR -

AUG. 6TH. 1530HRS. LITTLE GULLS 190 AT BUDDON BURN MOUTH

GRID REF. N.O. 513323

[keith hendrie]

Purple Sandpipers back at Scurdie Ness today.

[RAB]

2 juv Spotted Redshank and 2 juv Ruff this afternoon (Mon 7/08/06) at Lurgies/Old Montrose Pier. Merlin over Victoria Park, Arbroath, this morning.

[Bob McCurley]

8TH. AUGUST- 1815HRS. PM. GREENSANDPIPER -- ON BARRY LOCH

AT BARRY BUDDON ONE --

CARNOUSTIE BAY -- 2 MANX SHEARWATERS AND 1 ARCTIC SKUA

LIGHT PHASE

[Neil Mitchell]

A flock(23) of Golden Plover were visible from the Visitor centre this morning this first flock of the season, alongside 148 Dunlin and 100+ redshank. Kingfishers are still showing regularly at old montrose.

[Bob McCurley]

Aug. 9th. 1400hrs. GREAT SKUA -- at Lunan Bay from A.D.B.C. Hide. also on show there - ARCTIC, COMMON AND SANDWICH TERNS

AUG. 9TH. 1445 HRS. MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Adult - has now moulted out of Black Head -- at Arbroath on shoreline line with Black Headed Gulls. Bird is located usual spot , behind 10 Pin Bowling alley Arbroath

[RAB]

Bob, There were two Med Gull's behind the bowling alley yesterday (Tue) about 2000hrs. Also 16 Little Gull at Elliot Mouth.

[HarryB]

Over 1200 Auks (mainly Common Guillemot) in Montrose Bay. Also 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Red-throated Diver.
At Usan, 1 Manx Shearwater and large (uncounted) number of Auks. Lots of Sandwich Terns plus some Arctic and Common Terns. 11 Common Scoter flying north.
Wind very strong, but from the shore, with good visibility, which hardly made for good seawatching.

[christopher elmer]

date 10th aug 06 time . 12.50pm place. victoria park foreshore arbroath .grid ref 655411 a roosting group of 14 golden plovers seen. also on the seaton cliffs 6 meadow pipits mobbing a stoat at the base of a gorse bush. from chris. e . email elmer@bob11.co.uk

[HarryB]

Hi All,
Bob McCurley has just sent me a message, to report a Surf Scoter at Lunan Bay this afternoon. This from the ADBC hide there.

[HarryB]

Hi Folks,
With an offshore wind today, seawatching was not very good
About 15 Northern Gannets/ minute north. 3 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Great Skuas (Bonxies) and 16 Ruddy Turnstone. Plenty of moulting Common Eider, a few Northern Fulmar and also lots of Auks, with their young in attendance.

[Bob McCurley]

11th August 11a.m. SURF SCOTER (MALE )

LUNAN BAY - N.O. 693508

BIRD SHOWING WELL , VIEWED FROM SAND DUNES AT TOP OF BOARD WALK ABOVE PUBLIC CAR PARK .

IN COMPANY WITH 70 VELVET SCOTERS

[Bob McCurley]

AUG. 12TH LITTLE GULLS CARNOUSTIE BAY 500 PASSED

GOING NORTH

ALSO IN BAY 45O COMMON SCOTER

ABOVE OBSERVED BY GRAHAM SMITH AND I WHILST DOING A RECCY FOR THE OPEN DAY TOMORROW ON BARRY BUDDON

[JIM COBB]

14 Barnacle geese at Vane farm today 3-4p.m.

[HarryB]

Hi All,
First; a Marsh Harrier was found on the western side of the Basin today , during the WeBS count.
The WeBS count itself. produced the following:
15 Great Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 237 Mute Swan,
206 Shelduck, 2 Bar-headed Goose,1 Whooper Swan,
3 Pink-footed Goose, 408 Mallard, 270 Eurasian Wigeon,
6 Eurasian Teal, 1582 Common Eider, 66 Common Goldeneye,
13 Goosander, 6 Moorhen, 2000 Eurasian Oystercatcher,
16 Ringed Plover, 148 Northern Lapwing, 6 Red Knot,
9 Ruddy Turnstone, 107 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper,
1794 Common Redshanks, 14 Common Greenshanks,
7 Black-tailed Godwit, 515 Eurasian Curlew, 1 Ruff,
1 Spotted Redshank, 462 Black-headed Gull, 17 Mew Gull,
2 Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull 285,22 Common Tern,
3 Common Guillemot.
This WeBS count took place because people, including non-members volunteered to help. The next count is in mid September (date to be announced) and 4 of tonight's counters will NOT be available for it. Please contact me to volunteer your help for this important count
Also, at the SWT Centre, we are looking for natural history books to be donated (and purchased) to raise money specifically for the Centre's projects, including simple things like keeping the bird feeders full!
Please donate (and purchase) at the Centre.
Thanks.
HarryB

[HarryB]

Hi All,
An Osprey fishing at low tide in south east corner of Montrose Basin today (Rossie Island area).

Please, if you can, help us to raise funds for the SWT Montrose Centre. We are looking for (mainly) natural history books to be handed in to the Centre. These books will also be available for sale at the Centre.
We will also welcome children's books for the Family Day, being held at the Centre on Sunday 27th August.
I know this request is a bit 'off message', but can't think of other ways to request the help.

[Alan Leitch]

Over the weekend - Great views of Ospreys (4) fishing at Kinnordy, a female Marsh Harrier on Saturday. Wildfowl numbers begining to rise with Teal & Wigeon returning. Water Rails are showing well at the moment from Gullery & Swamp Hides. Four Swifts overhead 13th.

[Bob McCurley]

AUGUST 14TH. 11AM. SURF SCOTER male LUNAN BAY

GRID REF, N.O. 693508 VIEW FROM DUNES ABOVE PUBLIC CAR PARK AT N.O. 690516

IT IS KEEPING COMPNAY WITH 150 VELVET SCOTER

ALSO IN BAY 2 GREAT SKUAS

[HarryB]

Hi All,
A report this morning, of a strange pipit, at Carnoustie:
The bird was described as, initially looked like a Rock Pipit, but had a 'tail-pumping' action, which distinguished it from other birds the observer has seen. His checks, suggested an Olive-backed Pipit, but whatever the identification, it was markedly different from the usual Meadow Pipits.
Anyone who can investigate this bird, will find it at the esplanade at Carnoustie, on the rocks there. It flies out to the cut grassy area and returnd to the rocks with food and eats there.

[RAB]

Arbroath yesterday (Mon) 1930-2030

25 Manx Shearwater
3 Sooty Shearwater
1 Arctic Skua
3 Bonxies

Today (Tue) 0630-0700

2 Manx Shearwater
1 Sooty Shearwater.

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: TUESDAY 15th August 2006
Species: Garganey, Surf Scoter
Location: Birdguides is reporting a female Garganey at the east end of Balgavies Loch this evening.
The Surf Scoter again spotted throughout the day from Lunan Bay ADBC hide and also from the dunes boardwalk this evening.

[christopher elmer]

12.20pm south esplanade arbroath. 5 knot flew in and started feeding, opposite the paddling pool. 3.10pm elliot mouth, 16 little gulls bathing.(on14th , 4 corn buntings seen in area around boghead farm,north of auchmithie and 1 tree sparrow (juv) on fencepost just s.e of westwoods of ethie.)

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY 16th August 2006
Species: Surf Scoters, Garganey
Location: Birdguides reporting x2 Surf Scoters at Lunan Bay and Garganey still at Balgavies loch today.

[Clive McKay]

1 Osprey, 1 Green Sand, 3 Common Sand, 4 Snipe etc

[Bob McCurley]

Aug,15th GARGANEY (female )

Barry Buddon Yeomanry Pond Grid Ref. NO 539333

one -- Bird very elusive , must be leaving site and possibly using Balgavies where another female has been reported , will keep checking subject to access availability

[Clive McKay]

AUGUST 18, LOCH of LINTRATHEN

1 juv COMMON TERN blown in by the strong easterlies and rain, but no new waders. 55 CANADA GEESE were new in yesterday - on their way back from the Beauly Firth moult flock?

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: SATURDAY 19th August 2006
Species: Icterine Warbler & Common Migrants
Location: My day went pretty much like this:
9:00am Auchmithie Gulley
- Influx of Willow Warblers.
10:30am Castlesea Bay
- Icterine Warbler in amongst Willow Warblers. Frequenting cottage garden Sycamores and bushes. (Phone Died on me)
12:00pm Elliot
- Whinchat
1:30pm Conifers near Signal Box at Usan
- Report of a Juv R.B. Shrike but couldnt reloacate. (Ran into Bob McCurley whose phone was working and he put out the Icky news.)
A few Willow Warblers at Fishtown.
2:30pm Springfield Park, Arbroath
- Couldnt relocate Richard Bramhalls Wryneck present early this morning and also mid morning per Bob McCurley. x2 Pied Flycatchers and a Wheatear present.
3:30pm Path at East Seaton by Caravan Park
- Garden Warbler
4:30pm Windyhills Roadside Trees
- Viewed From Field side. x2 Spotted Flycatchers, x2 Pied Flycatchers, Garden Warbler and at least x2 dozen Willow Warblers.
5:00pm Auchmithie Gulley
- nothing new.
7:30pm Auchmithie my Kitchen Window
- Peregrine flew over.

[Alex Smith]

Pied Flycatcher today 5.30pm in trees opposite main path halfway up Craigmill Den.